Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Jumping on a current trendy approach, the South LA City Council voted unanimously to place a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in an impoverished swath of the city. The reasoning is that this will give time for more healthy eating establishments to move in.

Diets might improve when healthy food establishments are available -- but cost and education are major factors as well in poorer communities such as this. We are sure you can name a dozen fast-food restaurants off the top of your head, all offering discount menus these days from Taco Bell to McD's, but how many "healthy" establishments can you name that are affordable?

Fast-food chains say they support the goal of better diets but believe they are being unfairly targeted, and they already offer healthier food items on their menus. "It's not where you eat, it's what you eat. That could be true -- you recall the story of Chris Coleson who lost 90 pounds on a diet solely of McDonalds: "I went for the salads, the wraps, the fruits, the apple dippers," he said.

Irrespective of the diet issue, do you feel government has the right to make such decision's for you? Let us know where you fall on this when we get into it on the show.

The Michelangelo Signorile Show airs across the U.S. and Canada weekdays from 3-6 p.m. EST on SiriusXM Progress 127, and on the iPhone via the Sirius XM iPhone app. Listen online at any time by getting a free three-day pass and tuning to Progress 127. Learn more about my show and Progress. For interview ideas and show topics, please e-mail producer Sean Bertollo.

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